Broiled Beef Patties with Cucumber-Mint Greek Yogurt Dip

by Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

September 20, 2012•0 comments

Broiled beef offers a taste of Morocco

This is another recipe inspired by the Moroccan baby shower I threw last spring. The original dish served at the party, kabab koobideh (say that three times fast), was outsourced from a favorite Middle-Eastern restaurant. I became infatuated with the complex flavors and tenderness of these Iranian beef patties, which are traditionally skewered and browned over coals. To simplify matters, I just shape the beef into patties and slide them under the broiler. The classic dish uses a spice called sumac, but I won’t torment you by asking you to hunt it down at a Middle-Eastern or specialty spice market—especially if you live in the suburbs. Instead, I substitute lemon zest and lemon juice for the sumac, and it mimics the flavors of the tart berry powder quite well.

To make the patties: Stir together all of the patty ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

To make the dip: Spread the cucumbers out in a colander and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Stir and allow cucumbers to rest for 1 hour, allowing the salt to extract water. Dab cucumbers with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Mix cucumbers, 1/8 teaspoon salt, yogurt, mint, lemon juice and garlic powder. Chill.

Move oven rack to 6 inches below the broiler element and pre-heat to high broil. Shape beef into 12 patties and place on a sheet pan. Place pan on oven rack and broil until browned and cooked halfway through, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook until done, about 4 minutes.

Instructions

Stir together all of the patty ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hour.

To make the dip: Spread the cucumbers out in a colander and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Stir and allow cucumbers to rest for 1 hour, allowing the salt to extract water. Dab cucumbers with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. Mix cucumbers, 1/8 teaspoon salt, yogurt, mint, lemon juice and garlic powder. Chill.

Move oven rack to 6 inches below the broiler element and pre-heat oven to high broil. Shape beef into 12 patties and place on a sheet pan. Place pan on oven rack and broil until browned and cooked halfway through, about 5 minutes. Turn and cook until done, about 4 minutes.